Phoenix — Retired Phoenix Police Department Lieutenant Tyler Kampf He made a political run in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s race, bringing with him an impressive resume and praise from his superiors.

But as Kampf seeks to assure voters that he is the right choice to lead MCSO, he has also made allegations of employee harassment against him, and recently responded to questions from 12News about the matter. .

Worked at an anti-trafficking organization after retirement

Like the previous two sheriffs, Kamp changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democratic to run for office. Kampf defeated MCSO Sheriff Russ Skinner in the Democratic primary and will face Republican Jerry Sheridan in the general election.

Kamp said his experience working for an anti-trafficking organization in Ghana taught him how to work with government and nonprofit organizations. Kampf, his wife and children lived in Ghana for nearly a year.

“When you’re a guest in someone else’s country, you’re taught to be more empathetic to what other people are going through,” Kampf said.

Kampf worked with authorities to establish an anti-trafficking task force and coordinate rescue efforts.

“We have to work together with others. We have to work together. That’s the only way we move forward as a community,” Kampf said.

After returning home, Mr. Kampf worked at Goodwill and served on the board of the nonprofit organization Thrive Service Group.

Employment records include awards and cold case resolutions.

12News reviewed Kampf’s employment record with the Phoenix Police Department.

Mr. Kampf, a graduate of ASU’s judicial administration, rose through the ranks from officer to lieutenant during his 22-year career. Along the way, he worked as a night gang enforcement sergeant and homicide detective. His assignments included the Mountain View and Maryvale school districts.

Supervisors described Kampf as a “charismatic, engaging and effective leader” and a “utilitarian employee who adapts effortlessly to any task and functions with autonomy.” Mr. Kampf has been named “Employee of the Month” 13 times and has received awards including the AZ Gang Investigator Medal.

Kampf said he understands the stress that comes with law enforcement and is proposing a performance-based pay system for lawmakers. He also wants the county to invest in walk-in health clinics for employees.

“It’s a complex job,” Kampf said. “Men and women suffer from PTSD, and some turn to alcohol to treat the symptoms. It doesn’t help. I want to put more emphasis on mental health.”

City supports employee harassment claim against Kampf

Five months after Kampf left the company in 2021, a new executive filed a human resources sexual harassment complaint against Kampf.

The officer provided text messages showing Kampf flirting with the officer, calling her cute, complimenting her physical features and asking her out on a date.

The investigation concluded that Kampf violated the department’s sexual harassment policy. The January 2023 report also states that the complainant did not sign the “complaint” after the follow-up interview.

“I exchanged common text messages with co-workers. Some of them were disrespectful to my wife, but me and my wife dealt with them years ago. But looking back on my entire career… is important,” Kampf told 12News.

12News asked Kamp why he considered the officer a “coworker” rather than a subordinate. Kampf was a lieutenant at the time of the harassment allegations.

“She was a colleague when these text messages were exchanged. They were mutual text messages. She did not work under my chain of command,” Kampf said.

The city report also said Kampf denied sending the text messages. 12 News asked Kamp if he was being honest with investigators. Kampf said he did not remember sending the message.

“It’s important to understand that this investigation is not complete. It was an incomplete investigation. There was never a review process. There was no discipline involved in this investigation,” Kampf said. spoke.

Kampf’s employee history shows a disciplinary action in 2012 for improper use of a police database that led to a one-day suspension. Kampf was also disciplined for driving a vehicle in the city on personal time.

“Those were mistakes I made. I learned from them,” Kampf said. “If you look back at what was going on in the Valley at the time, it was during the Jerry and Joe Show roundup, and with this court order we have to pay over $300 million in costs.”

Disciplinary backlog and immigration enforcement

The Melendrez civil rights lawsuit resulted in sweeping court-ordered reforms that continue to cost the county.

The reforms came after a federal judge ruled in 2013 that the agency overstepped federal immigration law and the sheriff’s office’s authority to enforce racially profiled drivers. At this time, Joe Arpaio was sheriff and Sheridan was the chief deputy in charge of all operations.

The class action lawsuit also uncovered evidence of dysfunction within the sheriff’s office.

Kampf said his experience investigating cold cases and homicide cases has taught him time management and leadership skills to help reduce the backlog of courtroom and internal affairs cases.

Regarding immigration, Kampf said it is up to state legislatures to set immigration policy.

“I’m a big believer in staying in your lane. I don’t write the law, I enforce the law,” Kampf said.